VVC president addresses 'conflict of interest' claims

Tuesday

Aug 26, 2014 at 6:07 PMAug 26, 2014 at 7:05 PM

VICTORVILLE — Victor Valley College President/Superintendent Roger Wagner recently responded to allegations that his agreement to speak at campaign events for two incumbent Board of Trustee candidates constituted a conflict of interest.Wagner said in an e-mail addressed to the campus community last week that he heard there was concern about him speaking at a campaign event.Wagner, who has been on the job since July 15, will speak at a campaign event for Trustee Brandon Wood on Wednesday evening and another event for Trustee Joseph W. Brady on Sept. 15.He said he does not endorse any candidate and would speak about the “state of the college and its current challenges from an informed point of view” at both events. In the same email, he also outlined his goals for the college and gave biographical information to introduce himself to employees he has not had the chance to meet. “I have told our seated board that while I would not offer any endorsements for their campaigns, I would speak at any event that they may be holding,” Wagner wrote. “I have to this point been invited to speak at two such events.”In an email to the Daily Press, former VVC Trustee Michael Krause questioned Wagner’s presence at Wood’s event, calling it “a huge conflict of interest.” Krause said that a board member who controls the hiring and firing of the president “should not have that same person at his fundraiser.”“It looks bad,” Krause wrote when asked for a follow-up comment. “It looks like the president is favoring one candidate over another. It looks like the president could now be beholden to a trustee.”Wagner said the offer to speak was also extended to two non-incumbents who have filed for a seat on the board. In his email, Wagner asks for the help of the campus community in “keep(ing) rumors to a minimum.”“Rumors can be very damaging to the institution and to those individuals involved,” Wagner said. “If you hear something that is concerning and has not been ‘officially’ announced, or published, please let me know. I will find the answer for you and if needed dispel or affirm the rumor.”Wood said the message reflects a greater effort by the board to improve the campus’ climate and culture in accordance to the expectations of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. In recent years the college’s probationary status has been impacted by a reported negative campus climate, including employee infighting. “One of the things the school has been dinged on is campus climate,” Wood said. “People make assumptions that are not based on facts, or based on few facts, and add their own assumptions. Then they go around and spout about it. ... It gets out of control real quick.”Wood said he didn’t believe the president’s presence at his fundraiser would be a conflict of interest.“He’s the president of the college and the event is relative to the college,” Wood said. “When he’s made it clear he’s willing to speak at anybody’s function, that’s certainly not any sort of impropriety.”The campaign fundraiser for Wood is being held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Green Tree Inn. Tickets are $25 per person and $49 for a couple. For more information contact brandonawood4vvctrustee@brandonawood.com or see www.brandonawood4vvctrustee.org.Brady will also host a fundraising lunch at the Hilton Garden Inn at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 15. Tickets cost $99 and can be attained at www.joinjoebrady.com or by calling 760-951-5111, ext. 100. Brady’s seat is not up for re-election until 2016, but he said he is fundraising to pay off debt and support other candidates. He said he is endorsing Wood and Lorrie Denson in this year’s race.Brooke Self may be reached at 760-951-6232 or BSelf@VVDailyPress.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at @BrookeSelf or @DPEduNews.